RHA in Santa Rosa | REAL Aesthetic + Wellness

RHA

Facial rejuvenation reaches a new level of refinement with RHA, the Resilient Hyaluronic Acid filler that moves with your expressions.

RHA
is Perfect For…

Treating dynamic wrinkles in areas with frequent movement, like around the mouth and eyes
Maintaining softness and flexibility for results that move naturally with your expressions
Refining fine lines and etched-in creases without heaviness or rigidity
Enhancing delicate areas, such as lips or under eyes, where precision and resilience are essential

Treatment Length

Around 30–45 minutes, similar to other dermal filler appointments.

Treatment Frequency

Results are long-lasting, up to about 12 months.

Treatment Results

Immediate subtle lifting and smoothing. You’ll leave with fuller contours and softened wrinkles, and as initial swelling settles over a few days, the outcome looks even more natural.

Treatment Recovery

Minimal downtime. Expect mild swelling or bruising for a few days at most.

What is
RHA?

RHA stands for Resilient Hyaluronic Acid, a state-of-the-art collection of dermal fillers designed to adapt to your facial movements. Unlike traditional fillers that can sometimes feel firm, RHA’s innovative gel has a spring-like flexibility, it stretches and compresses with your skin’s natural motions, meaning when you smile or frown, the filler moves seamlessly with you for an authentic look. RHA is made of hyaluronic acid (like Restylane and Juvéderm), but it’s processed in a way that preserves long chains of the molecule, giving it that unique resilience. FDA-approved for treating dynamic wrinkles and folds, it’s the first filler of its kind in the US. The intended outcome with RHA is to refresh your appearance while preserving your natural expressiveness. In other words, it targets deep nasolabial folds, marionette lines, or other age-related hollows, but once healed, it’s virtually indistinguishable from your own tissue, even when you’re laughing or animated. As one of the exclusive providers of RHA in Santa Rosa, we’re proud to offer this breakthrough to our patients who demand the most advanced, natural-looking rejuvenation.

How RHA Works

Resilient Hyaluronic Technology

RHA works on the same principle as other HA fillers, by adding volume and attracting moisture, but its formulation is special. It undergoes a gentle manufacturing process that leaves the hyaluronic acid chains more intact and flexible. The result is a gel that can bend and flex under facial pressure. When injected, RHA integrates into your skin’s dermis and forms a network that moves with your facial muscles instead of resisting them. This resilience means that in dynamic areas (like around the mouth), the filler won’t crack or lump; it remains smooth whether you’re smiling or resting.

Refining Wrinkles and Folds

Once injected, RHA immediately goes to work filling creases and restoring lost volume. It excels at treating “dynamic wrinkles”, those deeper folds that are etched into the skin from years of repeated expressions (think of laugh lines that stay even when you’re not laughing). By placing RHA into these lines, we provide internal support that lifts the crease from beneath. The filler’s presence causes the wrinkle to relax and appear far less pronounced on the surface.

Natural Integration & Expression

RHA’s greatest strength is how naturally it becomes one with your tissue. The filler gel is designed to mirror the elastic qualities of healthy dermal tissue. As it settles in, RHA doesn’t disturb the way your face moves. Smile, and your cheeks and mouth will crinkle normally, the filler flexes along, so you don’t get that telltale stiffness that can happen with earlier-generation fillers.

Collagen Renewal Support

Like other HA fillers, RHA also encourages a secondary benefit: collagen stimulation. By filling and gently stretching the dermis, it provides mechanical cues to your fibroblast cells to ramp up collagen production. Over the months after treatment, this can lead to new collagen fibers in the area, subtly improving skin firmness and quality even after the HA itself starts to dwindle.

This Treatment is
Great For…

For those who want to look as rejuvenated and composed as they feel, even through life’s busiest moments, Restylane is an ideal choice.

Softening Dynamic Expression Lines

If you have deep laugh lines, frown lines, or folds from years of smiling, RHA is superb at softening these while respecting your facial movements. It’s ideal for smoothing nasolabial folds and marionette lines , those creases that are visible even when your face is at rest. With RHA, those lines are gently filled and lifted, so your expressions appear more youthful and relaxed, yet you can still smile broadly or furrow your brow without looking unnatural.

Restoring Youthful Volume

RHA is also excellent for replenishing volume in areas that have lost fat and fullness. This might be the midface that have flattened over time, the corners of the mouth that have started to turn down, or even subtle lip enhancement. By adding volume back in strategic places, RHA can re-create youthful contours, lifting the cheeks softly, supporting the mouth corners to erase a tired or sad look, and adding a bit of plumpness where needed.

Maintaining Natural Expression

One of the standout benefits of RHA is how it preserves natural facial expression. If you’ve been hesitant about fillers out of fear of looking “frozen” or different, RHA was made for you. The fillers in this line were specifically formulated to handle the movement of high-expression zones (like around your mouth and eyes) without causing stiffness. So this treatment is great for anyone who speaks animatedly, laughs often, or simply values being able to emote fully.

Long-Lasting, Age-Defying Results

Lifestyle-wise, RHA suits those who seek results that age well over time. If you invest in your skin and want a solution that will give you enduring improvement, you’ll appreciate that RHA’s effects can last 12 to 15 months in many areas.

What to Expect at
REAL Aesthetics

Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation

Your journey with RHA at our Santa Rosa Montgomery Village clinic begins with a detailed consultation. In this relaxed but professional discussion, we’ll map out your unique facial dynamics. Our provider will ask about what specific lines or areas bother you and observe how your face moves when you talk or smile. Since RHA is all about dynamic movement, we pay extra attention to understanding your expressions. We’ll explain how RHA differs from traditional fillers and why it might be the ideal choice for your goals. By the end of this consultation, you’ll have a clear picture of the customized treatment plan, for instance, which areas we’ll treat with which RHA product, and what kind of outcome to expect. All your questions are answered with honesty and detail so you feel comfortable proceeding.

Step 2: Individualized Pre-Care

In preparation for your RHA treatment, we provide tailored pre-care guidance. As with any filler, we may advise avoiding certain supplements and medications a week ahead to minimize bruising. We’ll check your skincare regimen and might suggest pausing any aggressive exfoliants or retinols a few days before treatment to reduce skin sensitivity. Hydrated, healthy skin responds best, so we’ll encourage good hydration and perhaps even a pre-treatment facial or gentle exfoliation if appropriate. The key is personalizing the pre-care to you. If you’ve had fillers before, we’ll discuss your past experiences and adjust accordingly. By ensuring your skin and body are in optimal condition, we set the stage for a smooth treatment and recovery.

Step 3: Precision Treatment

Often, we’ll use a flexible micro-cannula for areas like the nasolabial folds, and fine needles for precise work like in the lip line if needed. As we inject, we continuously observe how the filler is integrating and even have you animate at certain moments to ensure everything looks perfect in motion. This is a true precision treatment, we’re not just filling to a template, we’re artistically sculpting and testing the result against your natural expressions.

Step 4: Recovery & Support

After your RHA injections, we’ll have you relax with a cool pack on the treated areas for several minutes. We’ll review aftercare instructions: these include avoiding strenuous exercise, heavy sun or heat exposure, and alcohol for the remainder of the day to minimize swelling. Because RHA is designed for high biocompatibility, many patients experience less inflammation than with other fillers, but you may still have some localized swelling or tiny bruises. You’ll also receive our contact information for any questions and a follow-up appointment in about 2 weeks.

Step 5: Maintenance & Refinement

Two weeks after your RHA treatment, we welcome you back for a follow-up visit. This is an opportunity to assess the results once any swelling has resolved and the filler has fully integrated. We’ll look at your before-and-after photos together, in both still and animated expressions, to appreciate the improvements. We’ll typically recommend an annual or so maintenance plan; some patients might do a small touch-up at 12 months, others at 15 or 18 months depending on how they metabolize HA.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Holistic Aesthetic Assessment

Every treatment at REAL includes a comprehensive aesthetic assessment that looks at the big picture of your beauty and wellness. Rather than isolating a single concern, our experts consider how this treatment fits into your overall facial harmony, skin health, and personal goals. We may analyze factors like your facial anatomy, skin condition, or lifestyle influences to ensure our approach is truly bespoke. This holistic perspective means your treatment plan feels integrative and uniquely yours, as we aim for results that enhance your natural beauty in a balanced way.

Expert-Level Technique

At our Santa Rosa clinic, your treatment is performed using expert-level techniques honed by advanced training and experience. Dr. Drew Maynard and our team stay at the forefront of aesthetic medicine, whether it’s mastering the latest injection methods or operating cutting-edge laser technology. We uphold the highest standards of safety and precision, from using premium, FDA-approved products to employing meticulous protocols for your well-being. Our quiet confidence and technical excellence ensure you can relax and trust that you’re receiving world-class care with an artistic touch.

Optional Add-On Therapies

To elevate your experience, we offer thoughtful add-on therapies that can complement your main treatment for enhanced outcomes. For example, some patients choose to combine procedures, pairing a laser session with regenerative PRP, or following injectables with a calming facial, to amplify results in one visit. During your consultation, we will discuss any additional options that align with your goals, from specialized skincare infusions to wellness therapies like IV nutrient drips. These enhancements are always optional, but available if you desire a truly comprehensive rejuvenation journey curated just for you.

HAVE QUESTIONS?
WE HAVE THE ANSWERS!

What makes RHA different from other fillers?

RHA is often called the “first dynamic filler.” Traditional fillers are great for static lines, but RHA was formulated to excel in areas of movement. Its hyaluronic acid gel has a unique consistency that stretches and bends with facial expressions. Practically speaking, this means RHA provides very natural results even around highly mobile zones like your mouth.

Is RHA safe and FDA-approved?

Yes. RHA fillers (including RHA Redensity™, RHA® 2, RHA® 3, and RHA® 4) are all FDA-approved for use in the treatment of dynamic facial wrinkles and folds in adults. They were developed by TEOXANE, a Swiss company, and have been used in Europe for years with an excellent safety profile before coming to the U.S. The RHA collection underwent extensive clinical trials here, including 15-month studies that demonstrated both safety and efficacy.

Does getting RHA filler hurt?

First, we apply a strong numbing cream to the treatment areas and allow it to take full effect. The RHA filler itself contains lidocaine as well, which further numbs from the inside as we work. We use fine, sharp needles for pinpoint accuracy in some areas and smooth-tipped microcannulas in others, the latter technique significantly reduces pain and bruising by requiring fewer entry points. You’ll likely feel a tiny pinch or sting with the initial injection, but then quickly a pressure sensation as the area numbs.

How soon will I see results and how long do they really last?

You’ll see improvements right away. As soon as the RHA is injected, folds and hollows are diminished, you can literally watch deep lines become soft shadows. There will be some initial puffiness from both the product and a bit of swelling; typically within a few days, that settles, revealing the refined final result. Most patients enjoy their results for at least a year. Clinical data shows that in areas like nasolabial folds, about 50% of patients still had excellent correction at 15 months. In more mobile areas like the lips, expect closer to 9-12 months (since movement can break down fillers faster). We will personalize a follow-up schedule for you, but generally plan for a touch-up between 12 and 15 months.

Will I be able to make normal facial expressions with RHA?

Absolutely, yes. This is exactly what RHA was created for. You will not have the frozen or overly firm look that sometimes can happen if traditional fillers are placed in very dynamic areas. With RHA, normal facial expressions are preserved by design. After healing, when you smile, laugh, talk, or yawn, the treated areas will move naturally. You might even forget you have filler, it’s that in tune with your tissue.

Who is a good candidate for RHA fillers?

RHA is an excellent option for adult men or women who want to address facial lines, folds, or volume loss while maintaining a completely natural look. Ideal candidates are often in their late 20s to 60s who have noticed deeper expression lines (like prominent laugh lines) or subtle midface drooping. From a medical standpoint, candidates should be in good overall health, not pregnant or nursing, and without active skin infections or inflammation in the areas to be treated. If you have autoimmune issues or a history of severe allergies, we’ll evaluate cautiously (as we would for any filler). At your consultation, we’ll determine if RHA fits your needs.